‘Since you’re one of the Family and bright enough to be the head of AMEXICO, it probably won’t come as much of a surprise when I tell you that over the years we’ve fed a large number of what we call farm-boys into the units engaged on overground operations – the Trail-Blazer Division, QMGC, FINTEL, SIG-INT and AMEXICO. Not yearlings – super-straights, smooth-boned and clear-skinned. Just like you and me.
‘When I say a large number, don’t get the wrong idea. The percentage of farm-boys – and girls – in these units has always averaged less than ten per cent. We’ve always put the cream of the crop through the Flight Academy. The best of the rest have gone onto the wagon-trains. That’s why people like Brickman have performed so well.
‘The overground is in their blood. They can handle the vast open spaces and they don’t pull TRICS. But sometimes the conditioning fails and they get the urge to cut and run. They become renegades. But they’re the lucky ones. Ordinary cee-bees who go over the side eventually succumb to radiation-sickness.’
‘But we don’t …’
‘No. But then we’re Family.’
Karlstrom nodded. ‘Right. So the overground is still radioactive.’
‘Oh, yes. The level of contamination is less than it was a century ago, but it’s still dangerously high. Even if they could overcome their fear of open-spaces, extended exposure would prove fatal for the majority of our present population.’ The P-G smiled. ‘Did you think this was just another lie – like pinning the blame for it on the Mutes?’
‘No,’ said Karlstrom. ‘But it’s a useful control mechanism. If the atmospheric radiation dropped to a safe level tomorrow, I certainly wouldn’t tell anybody, would you?’
The P-G smiled again. ‘That’s why you and I get on so well, Ben.’ He sat down in his high-backed chair, laid his forearms on the table and clasped his hands together.
‘What I have to tell you relates to OPERATION SQUARE-DANCE. Some of our home-baked super-straights have also been “gifted”.’
‘Steve and Roz Brickman …’
Jefferson nodded. ‘They’re among the most outstanding examples to date, but the research programme has been running for several decades. And as a result of intensive investigation of their physiology down to the molecular level and beyond, we’ve discovered certain “markers” in their genes. We still don’t know the how and why of Mute magic but we can now identify those individuals who have the potentiality to become wordsmiths, summoners and seers.’
‘Or all three …’
The P-G nodded approvingly. ‘You’ve got it in one, Ben. We believe we now know the genetic markers that the Talisman would have to possess. Now that does not necessarily mean that someone with these markers will be the Talisman, but they would have the potentiality.’
‘I think I see where this is leading …’
‘Do you? I wonder. We’ve known about Steve and Roz’s genetic make-up since Day One, and now we have Clearwater’s. Tissue samples were flown to the Life Institute soon after the Red River medics got her on the operating table. The unknown element is Cadillac. But he may still fall into the net. Neither Steve, Roz nor Clearwater have all three markers but we ran their data through COLUMBUS and fed in some variable combinations for Cadillac.
‘The result was two interesting matches. Steve and Clearwater could produce a child with the potentiality to become the Talisman, and so could Roz and Cadillac. Both children could possess all three “gifts”.’
‘And we already have one of them under our control …’
‘That’s right.’
‘And you think that Cadillac may pair off with Roz …’
‘It’s not inevitable, but it’s a possibility we have to consider. We don’t know the full story behind her unauthorized transfer to the The Lady. She may have engineered it. The rational part of me says it doesn’t make sense but we can’t ignore the accuracy of the Talisman Prophecy. And its force, Ben. We’re up against something that is … beyond our present comprehension.’
The P-G brushed aside the metaphysical dimensions to the problem and got back to basics. ‘It’s quite possible to imagine Cadillac jacking up Roz just to get even with Brickman.’
‘Yes … interesting situation.’
Jefferson studied Karlstrom. ‘What plot are you hatching now?’
‘I was wondering if we could get Brickman to open up the way Roz did.’
‘You mean give us a map reference, plus what she was thinking and feeling?’ The P-G considered the possibility. ‘There may be no limit to what he might do – given the right inducements.’
‘I thought we were already providing them.’
The P-G responded with a tongue in cheek smile. ‘Fran has always had a weakness for young studs like Brickman. But if he proves more than a passing fancy we can always build her into the package. As you know, the Family is always prepared to support worthy causes.’
‘Indeed …’ Karlstrom expanded his initial suggestion. ‘If Brickman can establish contact, there’s a chance he’ll be able to give us a rough fix. Now that we’ve eliminated the clan, they’re on their own. We can snatch them any time we want. Failing that, Brickman should – at the very least – be able to tell us if she’s pregnant. Given their past relationship his reaction to that news should be very interesting.’
‘Go on …’
‘The child that Clearwater is carrying. Is it possible to run those tests you mentioned while it’s still in the womb?’
‘That’s something I’d have to check up on. But for the moment, let’s say yes.’
‘Then if the test proves that Brickman’s child doesn’t have all three markers, it’s possible that Roz – if she became pregnant – might give birth to the Talisman.’
‘She might. I think I know what you’re going to say but tell me anyway.’
‘Psychosomatic wounding. The involuntary telepathic link which caused Roz to share the mental trauma and enabled her body to mirror the wounds suffered by Brickman. Real wounds – even if the phenomenon was only temporary. If we wanted to eliminate Roz and her unborn child all we would have to do is kill Brickman.
‘If – for the sake of argument – he fell down one of the deep ventilation shafts and her mind and body shared the experience, there’s no way that child could survive even if, by some miracle, she did. The shock would cause her to abort.’
‘You’re right. That’s worth bearing in mind. However I don’t think I’ve explained why we’ve developed these conditioning techniques and what we’ve aiming to do. These farm-boys, the smart Mutes we’re raised … the programme is designed to turn their heads around, to change their whole nature, to make them into Trackers. To own them, body and soul – so that even if they somehow discovered they were Mutes, they would still remain loyal to the Federation and the Family.’
Jefferson stood up. ‘And despite the odd mishap, we’re almost there. Earth magic still eludes us. Clearwater may help us with that. But we’ve got the secret of their longevity, their resistance to pain and we’re close to reproducing the brilliance of their wordsmiths and the ability to read the stones.’
‘We can take that Mute clay and mould it any way we want. We can transform it into a human being. That’s why we been searching for the Talisman, Ben. We don’t want to kill him. We want to make him one of us.’
A Note on the Author
Patrick Tilley was born in Essex in 1928, but spent his formative years in the border counties of Northumbria and Cumbria. After studying art at King’s College, University of Durham, he came to London in 1955 and rapidly established himself as one of Britain’s leading graphic designers. He began writing part-time in 1959.
In 1968 he gave up design altogether in favour of a new career as a film scriptwriter. Work on several major British-based productions was followed by writing assignments in New York and Hollywood. His books have been translated into several languages, and have achieved cult-novel status.
Discover books by Patrick Tilley published by
Bloomsbury Reader at
www.bloomsbury.com/PatrickTilley
Fade Out
Mission
The Amtrak Wars: Cloud Warrior
The Amtrak Wars: First Family
The Amtrak Wars: Iron Master
The Amtrak Wars: Blood River
The Amtrak Wars: Death Bringer
The Amtrak Wars: Earth Thunder
For copyright reasons, any images not belonging to the original author have been
removed from this book. The text has not been changed, and may still contain
references to missing images.
This electronic edition published in 2013 by Bloomsbury Reader
Bloomsbury Reader is a division of Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, 50 Bedford Square,
London WC1B 3DP
First published in Great Britain 1989 by Sphere Books Ltd.
Copyright © 1989 Patrick Tilley
All rights reserved
You may not copy, distribute, transmit, reproduce or otherwise
make available this publication (or any part of it) in any form, or by any means
(including without limitation electronic, digital, optical, mechanical, photocopying,
printing, recording or otherwise), without the prior written permission of the
publisher. Any person who does any unauthorised act in relation to this publication
may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.
The moral right of the author is asserted.
eISBN: 9781448212507
Visit www.bloomsburyreader.com to find out more about our authors and their books
You will find extracts, author interviews, author events and you can sign up for
newsletters to be the first to hear about our latest releases and special offers.
Death-Bringer Page 38